Shannon Darby – Violin

Specializes In:

Violin

Biography:

Shannon Darby grew up in rural northern Ontario, and in 2014 moved to Winnipeg to work in the Education and Community Engagement department of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She currently manages the WSO’s Sistema Winnipeg initiative, an orchestral after-school program which inspires social change within Winnipeg’s inner city and North end.

From 2012-13, Shannon resided in Ireland to complete a Masters of Arts in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. While there she played first violin in the University of Limerick Orchestra, and volunteered at Sing Out with Strings, an El Sistema-inspired string program associated with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She had previously obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance at Brandon University in Manitoba, where she was concertmaster of the Brandon University Orchestra and played in master classes for James Ehnes, Charles Castleman and Gwen Hoebig. In 2011, her quartet competed in the chamber music class at the National Canadian Music Festival.

Shannon is passionate about the role that music plays in the community. She has taught violin extensively in Manitoba, Ontario and Ireland. She enjoys participating in community music-making, including most recently the Mennonite Community Orchestra and Rainy Lake String Orchestra summer camp.

Education/Training:

Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance at Brandon University
Masters of Arts in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick